LISTEN TO THIS: HONEYHONEY

Honeyhoney is the combined talents of Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe. Suzanne grew up obsessed with Mariah Carey and Disney soundtracks while Ben learned to play instruments including percussion, playing in Jazz bands at an early age. They met through a mutual friend and soon began writing together. Ben says their music is basically pop music but Suzanne prefers to call it "Rocktastic" or "Freeky Deeky". With their critically acclaimed EP, Loose Boots, under their belt, they released their first full album, First Rodeo, in 2008.

And here's a little something extra for all you fans of the television show 24, Kiefer Sutherland star in their video for the song, "Little Toy Gun".

You can learn more about honeyhoney on their official website and purchase their music here.

CLOWN FUNERAL

Former clown Norman Thompson, a Shriner and member of the Antioch Shrine Funster Clown Unit for 15 years, died Monday, May 25th at age 79.

The clown unit specializes in eliciting smiles from and comforting children who are burn victims or have orthopedic problems.

Eight of Thompson’s fellow clowns in their full costumes acted as pallbearers at Thompson’s funeral.

“Oh, he’s definitely smiling right now,” said Gloria Thompson, Thompson’s daughter, at Friday’s service.

“He definitely would have gotten a kick out of all this,” agreed Gloria Thompson’s sister, Melody King.

The tribute is only done at clowns’ funerals at the request of the deceased and their families, Lile explained.

Though there were tears, Thompson was laid to rest as he had lived: with more cheer than despair. And with honor.

“It’s kind of bittersweet, yes it is,” Lile said. “It’s remembering what he’s done and if he can’t clown anymore, this is the way he’d want to go out.”

I have to admit, when I first saw the photos I imagined a bunch of clowns pouring out of the casket or performing stunts and throwing pies at the funeral. Yeah, I know, you thought the same thing too.

Click here for the rest of the article a large photo gallery.

WATCH THIS: AUDITION

Audition tells the story of Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a lonely father who wants to remarry seven years after his wife's death. Lacking confidence and unsure of how to get back into the dating game, his friend Yasuhisa (Jun Kunimura), a film industry executive, comes up with the brilliant idea. They'll hold auditions for a non-existent film so that Shigeharu can select the best woman from the try-outs. He becomes smitten with Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina), a beautiful but disturbing woman.

Yoshikawa warns him about Asami, saying that he has a bad feeling about her. None of the references on her resume check out and the music producer she claimed to work for has gone missing. Aoyama, blinded by his feelings for Yamazaki, doesn't heed his friend's warning.

After several dates, they go away for a weekend together. Asami tells Aoyama about the sexual abuse she suffered as a child and shows him the scars on her body. Asami asks Aoyama to love only her and he does so but it's a promise that comes with a heavy price.

To say more would ruin the surprise and horror that comes from Aoyama's promise. What starts as a light romance becomes a brually violent nightmare. Director Takashi Miike is well known for his shocking scenes of extreme violence and bizarre sexual perversions. Most of his films contain graphic and extreme gore, sometimes over-the-top and cartoonish. But with Audition, Miike plays it straight, creating a realistic yet surreal cautionary tale of loving the wrong woman.

The players in Audition are all excellent but Eihi Shiina delivers an outstanding perfomance. She is both breathtaking and terrifying. There are many disturbing moments in Audition but I guarantee you'll never forget the way she coos "deeper, deeper, deeper" and what she does while saying it.

SCOPITONES SATURDAY: "CAKE WALKIN' BABY"

Ever since discovering Scopitones, I've been hooked. In case you missed my previous post, Scopitones, created in France, were short-lived video jukeboxes popular in the 1960's and the predecessor to music videos.

The music films had fun (sometimes bizarre) music and usually featured dancing women in skimpy outfits. Bikinis seem pretty standard in these films. There was more serious fare, such as Liz Brady, but mostly it was catchy, silly songs.

It's time to share the wonder of Scopitones with a new weekly feature: Scopitones Saturday. This week features the Greenwood County Singers "Cake Walkin' Baby".

You may not like all the songs but I hope you enjoy the posts and get hooked just like I did on Scopitones.

RED SONJA COSPLAYER

Pistnuto is a cosplayer who dresses like Rogue, Mary Jane, Medusa, Phoenix and more but she looks especially amazing as Red Sonja. Check out her Photostream to see more.

WONDER WOMAN SAFETY TIPS

Just because it's the weekend doesn't mean you should be careless. Just watch as Wonder Woman gives these important safety lessons.

LAMPSHADES MADE OF HUMAN SKIN

We've all heard the stories of how the Nazi officers created lampshades made of human skin from their Jewish prisoners. I always assumed this was a fact considering the barbaric nature of the Nazis but this may not be true after all. Cecil Adams from The Straight Dope has the story:

(1) Even by Nazi standards, Buchenwald was out of control. Its original commandant, Karl Koch, was by all accounts corrupt and cruel. Inmates loathed him and his apparently sadistic wife, Ilse, whom they dubbed "the Witch of Buchenwald." Meanwhile, medical personnel were keeping human souvenirs — in 1942 SS higher-ups ordered them to quit making "gifts" such as shrunken heads. A story arose that Ilse had had tattooed prisoners killed so lampshades and other articles could be made from their skin.

(2) In 1943 the SS conducted an internal investigation and tried the Kochs on charges including embezzlement and incitement to murder. (Karl had arranged for the shooting of two inmates who knew he'd contracted syphilis — the SS brass, if not necessarily the rank and file, paid at least lip service to the notion that prisoners weren't to be killed frivolously.) The SS judge, Konrad Morgen, found Karl guilty and ordered his execution, but acquitted Ilse. Later at her war crimes trial Morgen testified that a thorough search of her home found no human-skin lampshades or the like. Ilse didn't live at Buchenwald after 1943.

(3) Shortly after U.S. troops liberated Buchenwald in 1945, director Billy Wilder made a documentary about the camp to publicize Nazi atrocities. A widely circulated still photo from the film showed a table covered with preserved human remains, including two shrunken heads; several pieces of what appears to be tattooed skin; and an ordinary-looking table lamp. The film's narration says that among the items found was "a lampshade, made of human skin, made at the request of an SS officer's wife." The press went nuts, and soon the lampshade became emblematic of Nazi barbarism.

(4) Ilse Koch and others from Buchenwald were tried in 1947 for war crimes. Prosecutors submitted as evidence a shrunken head and three pieces of tattooed human skin but apparently no lampshade. Much of the testimony against Koch was hearsay, although at least one former inmate said he'd seen a tattooed-skin lampshade. Koch was convicted, but her life sentence was commuted on review, in part because of doubts about the witnesses' credibility. She was later tried by a German court, again sentenced to life, and committed suicide in prison in 1967.

From the books and articles I've read about the Nazis and their horrific accounts, I still have to believe they made a few lampshades of human skin. Why would they stop with a shrunken head when their depravity would demand more.

TREKKIE OVEN MITT

Check out this Trekkie (or is it "Trekker"?) oven mitt created by Bethany Joyce. Now you can shout out Captain Picard parody catchphrases like "bake it so" or "you have the fridge, Number One" as you create delicious treats in your kitchen.

HAN SOLO, P.I.

Enjoy this mash-up of Magnum, P.I. and Han Solo from Star Wars.

TOMB RAIDER REBOOT

It's official, a Tomb Raider reboot is underway. Producer Dan Lin spilled the beans to About.com, saying the new Tomb Raider would be a prequel featuring a younger Lara Croft.

"We're rebooting Lara Croft, it's a great origin story we're going to tell, very character orientated," Lin said before claiming the movie would be more "realistic" than the previous films starring Angelina Jolie.

It was rumored Megan Fox was cast as the younger Lara Croft but that has since been denied. I know I'll take a lot of grief for admitting this, but Megan Fox has a face that could crack a mirror. Plus, she's a rotten actress and her 15 minutes can't be up soon enough for me. I say give the role to former gymnast and official Tomb Raider model Alison Carrol. She's beautiful, graceful and athletic and obviously very familiar to the role of Lara Croft.

TOY STORY 3 TEASER TRAILER

It's been nearly 10 years since Toy Story 2 was released and a teaser trailer for Toy Story 3 has finally been released. I loved both Toy Story movies but I'm worried about the third sequel because it's not directed by Lee Unkrich, instead of the previous director John Lasseter. Still, it's great to see Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest back on screen. Now we just have to wait til June 18th, 2010.

COVER OF THE WEEK

Ms. Marvel, #39, Marvel Comics

Wow, what a great week for comic books. Even though comics were delayed because of the holiday, there were lots of good titles released today. The Cover of the Week goes to Ms. Marvel but there were some amazing covers this week. So, like I did one other time, I decided to have some Runners Up.

Battlefields: The Tankies #2 0f 3, Dynamite Entertainment

Wonder Woman, #32, Variant Cover, DC Comics

Red Sonja, #44, Dynamite Entertainment

GREEN LANTERN TRAILERS

The official Green Lantern movie is still a long way from being completed but that didn't stop a fan from making his own trailer. And while you're watching trailers, check out the new trailer for the upcoming animated film, Green Lantern First Flight.

Thanks, Jeff!

DOES THIS PILLOW COME IN A D CUP?

A new limited edition series of pillows from Japan has just been launched featuring anime characters with a little something extra called MuneKyun Dakimakura, or Chest-Tight Dakimakura (Dakimakura = Hugging Pillow). That's right, these pillows have their own built-in pillows. Now you can play motorboard, poke and fondle all night long or pass out from sheer embarassement.

CRUSHES: EMILY MORTIMER

Emily Mortimer was born in London, England and began performing in plays during her school days where she was spotted by a producer who later cast her in a television production of The Glass Virgin. Her first film role was in the 1996 film, The Ghost and the Darkness. Deciding to change her prim and proper image, she took on a provocative role in Lovely and Amazing appearing completely nude. Mortimer later starred in Disney's The Kid, Dear Frankie, Lars and the Real Girl and 2006 The Pink Panther remake and the 2009 sequel.

She will next be seen in Martin Scorsese's 2009 film, Shutter Island.

IT'S A CAKE! IT'S A CANDY!

It's two taste treats in one and it's delicious. I love Hostess Ho Ho's and although I've never laughed while eating one, I'm sure I've had a many big smiles of satisfaction while enjoying the tasty treat.

And look! According to the advertisement, it's now vitamin fortified! So that must mean all those chemicals, preservatives, chocolate and cream are good for you. Looks like V8 has a little competition.

Found here.

JONAH HEX DOWNLOAD

Once again Beware, There's A Crosseyed Cyclops In My Basement!!! has another great free download. This time it's issues 1 through 10 of Jonah Hex Volume 2. This is a great series and one of the few DC Comics titles I collect. Try it out absolutely free!

WORKING ON A DREAM POSTER

I'm a big fan of Bruce Springsteen. I'm the first to admit his current stuff isn't as good as his earlier work, still when I saw this poster of The Boss it reminded me of how incredible he is. You can order your copy of the poster through his website. Or better yet, buy Tunnel of Love, the greatest album of all time, here.

STARBUCK TO BE TYPHOID MARY

Well, that's the latest rumor anyway. Golden Apple Comics is reporting Katee Sackhoff from Battlestar Galactica visited their store and bought all the comic books she could find related to Typhoid Mary to research the role for an upcoming Marvel movie.

She proceeded to grab all the Typhoid Mary comics we had and has hopes to get a part for a marvel movie....

Daredevil is supposedly being considered for a reboot at Marvel Studios, and after that last Ben Affleck disaster, it's sorely needed.

FROM THE COLLECTION: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH MAIN ENTRANCE

I picked up this tiny photo years ago in a small collection of circus snapshot photos. This was the best one out of the set and the main reason I bought the photos. I've never seen a circus inside a tent but I often imagine what it must have been like to see such an enormous circus like Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey in those days. The photo is dated August 1942 but doesn't give a location.

RUBBERDUCKZILLA

If you're a Japanese girl with lesbian tenancies and hate the taste of water, Rubberduckzilla just might come to save the day.

PIN-UP OF THE WEEK

Blonde Surf

VIEWPOINT

Check out this cover of Candy, issue #9. Somehow I think Ted is very happy with the choice he made.

JUST LISTEN: TEGAN AND SARA

Born in Canada, identical twins Tegan and Sara began their music career in high school as PLUNK but didn't have a drummer or bass player. Using their school's recording studio, they recorded two demo albums, Who's in Your Band? and Play Day. They recorded three more demo albums in the same studio and in their bedrooms, Orange Demo, Yellow Demo and Red Demo. In 1998 they entered the Garage Warz Battle of the Bands and won. They began an extensive tour and released their first album, Under Feet Like Ours. While each sings and plays instruments, the lead singing goes to whichever twin wrote the song.

2007 saw the release of the fifth album, The Con, and produced the single "Back in Your Head". Tegan and Sara are currently working on a new album to be released later this year.

You can learn more about Tegan and Sara on their official website and buy their music here.

IT'S SUPERGIRL!

Check out this amazing photoshoot of Jessie as Supergirl by photographer LJinto. Jessie makes a perfect Supergirl and LJinto knows how to shoot beautiful pictures. He'll make you believe a girl can fly.

WATCH THIS: THE FALL

Welcome to the return of DVD of the Week, now retitled Watch This. It's been a long time since I did this feature but after watching The Fall, I had to tell everyone about this beautiful and amazing film.

Set in 1915 in a Los Angeles hospital, a bedridden and depressed stuntman Roy Walker (Lee Pace from Pushing Daisies) befriends Alexandria (Catina Untaru), a little girl with a broken arm. He tells her a story of five men on a quest of vengeance against the evil Governor Odious. Alexandria weaves the story from her own view point but it's all a ruse. Roy, who may never walk again, is heartbroken over his girlfriend who has left him for another man. Roy tells Alexandria the story to gain her trust and trick her into stealing pills for him so he can commit suicide.

The film took four years to complete, shot on 26 locations in 18 countries, only to sit on the shelf for two years before being released. The director, Tarsem Singh (The Cell), put up his own money to make the film. To say it's beautiful is an understatement. The exotic locations, artfully designed camera angles and colorful art direction are unlike anything you've ever seen. But what is equally remarkable is the performance of Catinca Untaru. She's so incredible, it's hard to believe her scenes are scripted.

The Fall is a true rarity; exotic, bizarre, fanciful and imaginative, it's amazing this film was ever made. So open your mind and your heart and be swept away by The Fall.

Trivia: Tarsem Singh put together a small memory box, like the one Alexandria has in the movie, to use as a tool during pitch meetings in hopes to secure financing for the film.

TALES FROM THE QUARTER BIN

One of my hobbies is reading blogs. In fact, Lady, That's My Skull was a major inspiration to start my own blog. One of the funniest things I've read in a long time is Tales From The Quarter Bin (how great is that title?) featuring Rima the Jungle Girl issue #7 over at Slay, Monstrobot of Deep!!

Rima encounters wealthy civilized woman and her bratty son on a safari. The bratty son not only taunts the wildlife but tortures it. I won't spoil any surprises but let's just say the brat gets what's comin' to him. Trust me, you'll want to bookmark Slay, Monstrobot of the Deep!! once you read his hilarious post.

POISON IVY IN BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM

Here's a sneak peek at Poison Ivy in the upcoming video game, Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game is scheduled to be released in August of this year.

SPERMINATOR

The future depends on happy endings. Watch as Sarah Kramer saves the future with one hand.

ALISA AS SUPERGIRL

Here's the beautiful Alisa from Alisa Kiss in her homemade Supergirl outfit. Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EATON BEAVER

Here's a big Don't Stand There Gawping! birthday wish to Eaton Beaver who turned 69. If you're like me, you're a big fan of Eaton Beaver so help spread the word.

Also upcoming birthdays for Dick Rasch, Phillip Hiscock, Tara Hymen and Phil McCracken, so stay tuned.

POWER GIRL, COVER GIRL

Here's a sneak peek at the cover art for Power Girl issue #4.

CRUSHES: PAMELA SUE MARTIN

Growing up I watched a lot of television but one show stands out from the rest. The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries rotated weekly, an episode of The Hardy Boys would air one Sunday evening with an episode of Nancy Drew the following week. I couldn't wait for the Nancy Drew episodes because of my huge crush on Pamela Sue Martin. No young boy stood a chance of not falling in love with the beautiful and talented Nancy Drew as portrayed by Pamela Sue Martin.

Martin began modeling at age 17 and by age 19 appeared in The Poseidon Adventure. She posed nude for Playboy magazine in the June 1978 issue during her Nancy Drew run and I remember reading about it in the paper. Needless to say, I cursed my youth for being too young to purchase a copy of Playboy.

Martin would later star as Fallon Carrington Colby on Dyanasty but left the series during the fourth season.

Now retired from show business and living in Idaho, Martin finds enjoyment in her daily life. From her upcoming autobiography, The Spirit of the Matter, she writes:

Excitement comes from within my being when I approach life with an open heart. A beautiful day, the breeze rustling the leaves, my dogs running down my driveway to greet me with boundless love get me excited. A good book can thrill me beyond any of the hundred DYNASTY scripts I used to read. We all succumb to thinking that the flash is where the excitement comes from. I did, as I watched that glamorous Shirley Jones. But think again. I lived it, and I wouldn’t trade any of my days today for “the old days”. I think excitement is an inside job.

‘“Are you making any movies lately?” That’s a good one.

Do I LOOK like I’m making a movie?’ I think as I stand in line at the grocery store emptying out my cart, checking off one of a million errands on my daily list. I do find it interesting that after all these years people still pop the question, especially when they see me schlepping around town like any other suburban housewife. Except I’m beyond suburban baby, mowing my lawn with the John Deere, and snow plowing through the blizzards. One can adopt a little of the old prairie settlers out here if one wants. Strong, rugged, women with lines of living etched around their faces.

Martin still appears in front of the camera from time-to-time and currently wrapped up a role for the television series, The L Word.

She doesn't worry about the future but takes delight in the small pleasures life brings. Whether in her yoga class or focusing on God, she finds her happiness within.

You can learn more about Pamela Sue Martin on her official website and head over to Amazon to order your own copy of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.

ANOTHER SEXY VELMA

Artists have been putting a good spin on Velma from Scooby Doo, Where Are You? lately. She's looking better and better. Take this version of Velma by artist Charlene Chua for example. Daphne is going to have a run for her money.

source

NEVER SAY YES TO A CIGARETTE

You don't tug on Superman's cape and you don't smoke near him either. Check out these great anti-smoking advertisements featuring The Man of Steel.

THE VOICE OF MICKEY MOUSE DEAD AT 62

"Now it's time to say goodbye to all our company."

Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse for 32 years, died Monday, May 18, 2009 of complications from diabetes at age 62.

"Wayne dedicated his entire professional life to Disney," chief executive Robert Iger said in a statement Wednesday. "Over the last 32 years, (he) gave so much joy, happiness and comfort to so many around the world by giving voice to our most beloved, iconic character, Mickey Mouse."

A Southern California native, Allwine joined Disney in 1966 when he took a job in the mail room. He went on to work in the sound effects department and began voicing the company's main mouse in 1977.

His falsetto can be heard in 1983's "Mickey's Christmas Carol," 1988's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and at Disney theme parks around the world. He won an Emmy Award in 1986 for his sound editing on the NBC series "Amazing Stories."

Allwine was the third man behind Mickey's voice. The first was Disney himself, then Jimmy MacDonald, who became Allwine's mentor and passed him the reins after voicing the mouse for 30 years.

"He said, 'Just remember kid, you're only filling in for the boss,'" Allwine once recalled. "And that's the way he treated doing Mickey for years and years."

"Mickey's the real star," Allwine continued. "You know you just have to love the little guy while you have him, because he won't be yours forever."

Roy E. Disney, director emeritus for The Walt Disney Co., said Allwine did more than give Mickey a voice. He "gave him a heart and soul as well."

"He did an incredible job of bringing emotion, humor and appeal to the character, and superbly carried on the tradition originated by my Uncle Walt, and later by sound-effects wizard Jimmy Macdonald."

Allwine is survived by a wife and five children from a previous marriage.

Link

THE SUPERGIRL FROM KRYPTON

Here's a brief history of everyone's favorite Kryptonian teenager, Supergirl.

COVER OF THE WEEK

Uncanny X-Men, #510, Marvel Comics

THE LAW OF TOYLAND

Check out these Zellers commercials featuring Batman and Robin. Now this is how you advertise a toy store!

FROM THE COLLECTION: LA FONTAIN SISTERS

I picked this up a few years ago in a collection of postcards I bought online. The card is postmarked 1960 from Sarasota, Florida. I learned the following from The Circus Blog:

La Fontain was their stage name. They are from the Canestrelli family, an Italian circus family. Tosca is on the right and Chi Chi is in the center. The last time they worked together was on the Hubert Castle Circus in the 60’s.

If anyone out there knows more about the La Fontain Sisters, please let me know.

TOM HIDDLESTON IS LOKI

First Nikki Finke had the exclusive about Chris Hemsworth being cast as the titular character Thor for Marvel's upcoming new movie, now she has news that Tom Hiddleston will be playing Loki, Thor's nemesis.

PIN-UP OF THE WEEK

Blonde on Beach

GRAPHIC FRAMES: X-FACTOR

While this probably won't be a weekly or even regular feature, I thought I'd share some of the brilliant moments in comic books. Comic books have been around for 75 years now, yet they are still widely considered a child's medium. Comics have changed a lot over that 75 years with Chris Claremont, Robert Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Alan Moore, Frank Miller and others providing gripping tales for more mature readers, elevating the medium to a more serious fare.

This page from Marvel Comics X-Factor #43 features Jamie Madrox meeting Layla Miller (one of my new favorite characters) in the future. The dialogue, written by Peter David, is beautiful and reminds me of why I love comic books so much.

Click the image for higher resolution.